Adventure

This trip so far has definitely been an adventure.

Though, it was hard to grasp the concept at first. When I left, many dear to me know that it was very hard for me. God allowed me to love my friends in a way I never have right before I left. Part of the appeal of going on Europe Term, to me, was that I was comfortable being uncomfortable--I wanted to escape and be kind of a loner--to just wander and adventure.

God has a sense of humor.

I now know that it is even better that I have gone because I became comfortable.

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This trip has been a whirlwind--yet, I feel as though I am in the eye.

To get on a plane and be thrown into a different civilization is hard to grasp. I still hardly grasp that I am sitting in the hotel parlor in London, hearing the clerk say "cheers" to the distinguished looking woman speaking something of tea...I'm not making this up-that's seriously what I just heard. Anyway, when I arrived in Scotland, I had trouble being completely aware of the fact partly because I was not enjoying it with people close to my heart. I kept thinking that so and so would LOVE this, or that if so and so were here, we would so do that right now right there.

But I HAVE grasped it, and it has been great.

Part of my grasping has been due to the fact that I have been blessed with more dear ones that are close to my heart. I am sharing this experience with 27 others who are incredible. It really is quite hilarious how different we all are and how we all interact and get along. The dynamics are fun. Though I've been getting really close to a few people, knowing that these are the beginnings of some very real, special relationships, I've begun to think of our group as a family. Not everyone can understand or relate perfectly with each other, but we stick together. Sometimes too much.
To figure out what we're to do at night, when we have some free time, is ridiculous. People are afraid of leaving people out or being left out, so we end up walking through the narrow streets of Britain as a group of 15-20 a lot of times. But we're learning how to balance.
Another wonderful thing I love about being in this group is experiencing 10 guys trying to protect and keep track of 18 fun, outgoing--and I've got to say pretty--girls on this trip. I'm very proud of how they've pretended to be many a girl's boyfriend as we experience the lively culture of pubs and such (which, by the way are pretty much the only thing open past 10:00 in Scotland). They also have made sure that none of the girls are alone ever-or even in a small group. If they are having fun and want to stay someplace, but a few of the girls want to leave the rest of the group, they are willing to make a sacrifice and walk them back to the hotel.

That's another subject--walking! We walk EVERYWHERE. I can honestly and seriously say I have averaged about two hours of walking a day at least. My legs constatnly have that good sore feeling and my abs are rock hard...in places. But my feet and lower back hurt oh well.

So we experienced the city, urban-ish part of Scotland in Edinbourgh, and the gorgeous highlands of the country in the far north of Scotland in the depressed, run-down fisherman town of Wick.

Though, we spent much of our time with a world-reknown author, Murray Watts, in his home, Freswick CASTLE, which dates back to the time of the Vikings-yeah!
He is an amazingly inspiring man with amazing faith. He described Freswick Castle as a "thin" place--a place where what is between heaven and earth is a very thin veil.
So Scotland was a whirlwind of site-seeing, lectures on the history of Celtic Christianity (yeah! my celtic girls! yeah!), pondering and deciphering the ethical dilemas of beverages to consume while enjoying the Scottish night life (that's a WHOLE other issue), danced in a genuine Ceilidh (pronounced like "Kaylee!), and getting to know amazing people.
And London has been mostly fun--we've shopped and seen stuff and danced and hung out and gone to a modern church in an ancient cathedral, and had a grand time. I really love London. Dana, I just have to say, everyone in London is "scene." It's so fun.

OH, and I finally have dyed my hair black underneath with streaks throughout.

God has been teaching me a lot, as well. I knew that He would teach me things between Him and I on this trip, and random Europeans I might however briefly come into contact with and show love to in ministry, but something that is quite prominant in what He's been teaching me lately is how I can love people within our group. For some reason, I've been told by several people that they respect me and look up to me. I'm not saying this as something to take pride in, I'm saying it in surprise--because if these amazing people look up to ME and see ME as something, they must really be hurting and struggling in certain areas. How frail and weak are we, as humans? I know I can just really love people in this group.
As far as prayer requests go, our group has been divided into different teams according to different needed duties to be accomplished while we travel together, and I am on the spiritual development team--I help plan devotions and worship and group prayer and such. Please pray for that. Also, I need to make time for one-on-one time with the Lord. It's MUCH harder than I thought it would be--there's at least one of 28 people around ALL the time. Also, just pray in general for safety, health (almost all of us are or are getting over being sick right now-sore throat type of stuff), and getting along and growing in Christ. Thank you!

Ok, so now that I have finally updated people for the most part through writing a freaking novel, I want to hear from you all-some of you have written to me and such informing me of what's going on, but I want to know what's goin' on over there and what to pray for. So write me. I love you all and miss you dearly.